New from the wet coast

Hello all, I am a shop teacher from Vancouver Island B.C. We have been making knives in our metal shop for the past couple of years, quite a popular project with many of my students. We typically use 01 tool steel and use hardwood for the handles. We are also making a couple of 2x72 belt grinders , one is a student project, and I am making the proto type version. So far so good, we are making drive wheels, tracking wheels in the machine shop - but need a source for rubber coated contact wheels. Not sure how to make them in house! I am also looking at starting to make Kydex sheaths, does anyone have a source of Kydex, rivets, rivet tools on the west coast - B.C.? Thanks for any info.
Alan

 

welcome aboard !

Kydex at Tandy in Surrey.......
rubber coated wheels - Beaumont Metal Works ( need a US mailing address ) there is another option on the east coast but the name doesn't come to me at the moment , some will post it later today I'm sure.

Lets see some prototype grinder pics , we love pictures !!!

 

Always great to see new members....you can also order contact wheels from USAKnifemaker should all other options fall through or perhaps even from Pheer grinders? I think they are in BC as well. Cant wait to see pics.

 

Welcome aboard Alan. I recently made a purchase at USAknifemaker.com myself and they have a large selection of grinder parts. I don't know what your budget is but if you need to do it on the cheap, my first contact wheel was machined out of a rubber coated caster and balanced by drilling holes. I still have and use it for certain knives. Works great. Anyway good luck and please show pics of some of the work produced as well as the finished grinder.

 

Welcome to the forum Alan. Glad to see some shop teachers still doing things like this. This is exactly how I got my start in knife making. For grinders you could look at the EERF plans, which are commonly used, or the NWGS. As far as wheels I have used usaknifemaker, but they are also available from several eBay sellers as well. You could also look into sunray, as they will make wheels to any dimension you need.

 

Thanks for all the replies. We do have a 2x72 grinder in the shop, it is a Bee Grinder. Nice machine, with the VFD, but only a 1 or 1-1\2hp motor. I have bought a 2hp 3phase baldor motor and a frequency drive for it.... should be a nice setup. We are working from a set of internet plans for a KMG clone. We have modified it to suit the material we have in stock. No need for a no weld grinder as we can weld! Anyone know what the shipping charges are like from USA knifemakers?? Do you end up paying brokerage fees etc? The machine cost is pretty reasonable, a 2-1/2" piece of 6" dia. alum is only $30.... so a bit of time on a lathe and broach a key way and presto a cheap 6" drive wheel. I need to pick up some 1/2" id bearings so we can machine up some wheels to make a flat platen and we should be in business. It is quite a good project for the student... welding/fabrication, some lathe/mill work .... some math to figure out belt speed .... problem solving.
Will put up some pics when closer to complete.
Cheers,
Alan

 

Thanks for all the replies. We do have a 2x72 grinder in the shop, it is a Bee Grinder. Nice machine, with the VFD, but only a 1 or 1-1\2hp motor. I have bought a 2hp 3phase baldor motor and a frequency drive for my build.... should be a nice setup. We are working from a set of internet plans for a KMG clone. We have modified it to suit the material we have in stock. No need for a no weld grinder as we can weld! Anyone know what the shipping charges are like from USA knifemakers?? Do you end up paying brokerage fees etc? The machine cost is pretty reasonable, a 2-1/2" piece of 6" dia. alum is only $30.... so a bit of time on a lathe and broach a key way and presto a cheap 6" drive wheel. I need to pick up some 1/2" id bearings so we can machine up some wheels to make a flat platen and we should be in business. It is quite a good project for the student... welding/fabrication, some lathe/mill work .... some math to figure out belt speed .... problem solving.
Will put up some pics when closer to complete.
Cheers,
Alan

 

I am just moving to Comox next week. Nice to hear there is some knife makers in the area.

 

I have used smooth on urethane to make some blocks for press forming a compound curve into some belt buckles we make in class. I have some left over..... Have you tried making your own wheels yet? I assume you would cast the urethane and then turn the OD to true up. If you have given it a go, it would be great to hear how it went!
Alan